University Scholarly Achievement Awards

Overview

Each year, the University of Kansas recognizes up to four mid-career faculty members as recipients of a University Scholarly Achievement Award.

This $10,000 award recognizes a significant scholarly or research contribution, creative work (an exhibition, performance, composition, article or book, or major collaborative project) or a series of closely related contributions. This award covers all fields of scholarship represented at the University of Kansas, including, but not limited to, arts, humanities, architecture and design, music, mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, clinical science, pharmacy, social sciences, social welfare, education, journalism, law, libraries, and business.

The submission deadline for the 2025 awards is December 15, 2024.

Details are below.

Selection Process

All nominations were evaluated by a panel of eight individuals, representing the following areas:

• Arts and Humanities
• Science, Technology, and Mathematics
• Medicine and Clinical Science
• Social Science and Professional Programs

Members of the selection panel are appointed by the chancellor.

Criteria

Contributions will be evaluated using the criteria below:

• Advances the field of scholarship;
• Exhibits novelty and originality;
• Promotes scholarly and research activity or creative works at KU; and
• Enhances the university’s national and international reputation.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, the faculty member must hold the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor; be within 10 years of appointment as an Associate Professor at the time of the current nomination; must have completed three academic years at KU; and must not have received a prior major KU award for this body of work.

Nomination Process

Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by others. Departments may nominate more than one individual for the award.

A complete nomination should be sent by midnight, December 15, 2024, and must include:

• Documentation of the scholarly or research contribution, or creative work, as appropriate for the discipline (e.g., articles, books, creative products); 
• A letter of nomination of no more than 750 words explaining in terms comprehensible to an educated layperson how the contribution meets the award criteria;
• Curriculum Vita; and
• Two reference letters (at least one from outside KU) from individuals who are qualified to comment on the merits of the scholarly contribution (send directly to the address below).

Nominations can be sent electronically to chancellorawards@ku.edu with “Scholarly Achievement Award” in the subject line.

Nominations and reference letters can also be sent to:

Office of the Chancellor
ATTN: Scholarly Achievement Award Committee
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard
Room 230 Strong Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045

Nominations that were not successful in past years are encouraged to resubmit (if submission criteria are still met). Resubmissions should include updated files to account for research activity since the last submission.

Timeline

• October 23, 2024: Nomination window for the 2025 award cycle open
• December 15, 2024: Deadline for submission of nominations and letters of support
• January 2025: Nominations and letters of support provided to panel members
• March 2025: Panel conveys its recommendations to the Chancellor
• April 9, 2025: Awards ceremony